Collar for securing neck accessories

ABSTRACT

A shirt collar for securing a neck tie or other accessory. One embodiment of the invention includes a collar band, first collar flap, and second collar flap. The bottom edge portion of the first collar flap attaches to the bottom edge portion of the collar band. The first collar flap can be folded up so that the tie sits between the collar band and the first collar flap. The traditional collar, or second collar flap, can then be folded down over both the first collar flap and the necktie.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to clothing. Specifically, the invention relates to articles of clothing including collars, such as men's and boy's dress shirts.

2. The Relevant Technology

Collared shirts are an integral part of society. Business men and women wear them to work, church goers wear them to church, and many people wear them as part of everyday life. Collared shirts provide many advantages over shirts without collars. For example, collared shirts are considered a sign of professionalism. Additionally, collared shirts facilitate the wearing of various accessories, including scarves, bolo ties, and traditional men's neck ties.

Despite their many advantages, collared shirts suffer at least one significant drawback. Specifically, an individual wearing a collared shirt will find it difficult to completely secure his neck tie. Traditional collared shirts utilize a traditional collar that folds over, and partially secures, a tie. In many instances, despite the traditional collar, the force of gravity and/or insufficient placement by the individual results in the tie sliding out the bottom of the traditional collar. In addition, active young boys can cause even a well knotted tie to slip down and out of a collar. When this happens, the collared shirt looks unkempt and unprofessional because a portion of the neck tie shows below the bottom of the traditional collar. One example of this is depicted in FIG. 1 which shows a typical shirt collar and with necktie 216 exposed below collar flap 214.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a collar (e.g., of a shirt, coat, etc.) for securing a neck accessory (e.g., a tie, scarf, bolo tie, etc.). One embodiment of the invention includes a collar band, first collar flap, and second collar flap. The bottom edge portion of the first collar flap attaches to the bottom edge portion of the collar band. The first collar flap can be folded up so that the neck accessory sits between the collar band and the first collar flap. The second collar flap (e.g., a traditional collar), can then be folded down over both the first collar flap and the neck accessory.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes a method for securing a neck accessory. According to the method, a user places a neck accessory around their neck and adjacent to the collar band. The first collar flap is then folded up so that the neck accessory sits between the collar band and the first collar flap. When the first collar flap is folded up it helps to secure the neck accessory in place and helps ensure that neither the force of gravity nor activity by the individual will cause the neck accessory to be exposed below the second collar flap. Subsequently, the user folds down the second collar flap (e.g., a traditional collar), over both the first collar flap and the neck accessory to make the entire ensemble more aesthetically pleasing.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a back perspective view of an individual wearing a dress shirt with a typical shirt collar;

FIGS. 2-5 illustrate back perspective views of an individual wearing a dress shirt with a shirt collar according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of an individual wearing a dress shirt with a shirt collar according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a collar (e.g., of a shirt, coat, etc.) for securing a neck accessory (e.g., a tie, scarf, bolo tie, etc.). One embodiment of the invention includes a collar band, first collar flap, and second collar flap. The bottom edge portion of the first collar flap attaches to the bottom edge portion of the collar band. The first collar flap can be folded up so that the neck accessory sits between the collar band and the first collar flap. The second collar flap (e.g., a traditional collar), can then be folded down over both the first collar flap and the neck accessory.

In another embodiment, the present invention includes a method for securing a neck accessory. According to the method, a user places a neck accessory around their neck and adjacent to the collar band. The first collar flap is then folded up so that the neck accessory sits between the collar band and the first collar flap. When the first collar flap is folded up it helps to secure the neck accessory in place and helps ensure that neither the force of gravity nor activity by the individual will cause the neck accessory to be exposed below the second collar flap. Subsequently, the user folds down the second collar flap (e.g., a traditional collar), over both the first collar flap and the neck accessory to make the entire ensemble more aesthetically pleasing.

The principles of the invention can be adapted to any article of clothing that includes a collar at the neck (e.g., men's dress shirts, women's dress shirts, children's dress shirts, men's coats, women's coats, children's coats, etc.) to secure any type of neck accessory (e.g., ties, scarves, bolo ties, etc.). Accordingly, reference to the collar as used on a men's dress shirt should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a back perspective view of an individual wearing a dress shirt with a shirt collar according to the present invention. The shirt collar 100 includes a collar band 102, a first collar flap 108, and a second collar flap 114. Collar band 102, first collar flap 108, and second collar flap 114 can include virtually any material, such as, for example wool, satin, cotton, linen, and the like. One or more of collar band 102, first collar flap 108, and second collar flap 114 can have shapes other than those depicted in FIG. 2.

As depicted, collar band 102 includes a top edge portion 104 and a bottom edge portion 106. However, collar band 102 can be formed of any number of edge portions, in any number of orientations.

Likewise collar flap 108 can include top edge portion 110 and bottom edge portion 112. In some embodiments, bottom edge portion 112 is sewn to bottom edge portion 106. Any suitable fastener or connection can be used for connecting first collar flap 108 to bottom edge portion 106, such as, for example, Velcro, a snap, or any other suitable alternative.

FIG. 3 illustrates a back perspective view of an individual wearing a dress shirt with a shirt collar according to the present invention. As depicted in FIG. 3 (and also FIGS. 2 and 4), first collar flap 108 can be made of one continuous piece of fabric. In other embodiments, first collar flap 108 can be made of multiple pieces of fabric. In yet further embodiments, first collar flap 108 can be made of multiple pieces of evenly spaced fabric.

Again turning to FIG. 3, a necktie 116 can be placed adjacent the collar band 102. However, virtually any neck accessory (e.g., a neck tie, scarf, bolo tie, etc.) could be used with the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a back perspective view of an individual wearing a dress shirt with a shirt collar according to the present invention. Additionally FIG. 4 illustrates first collar flap 108 in a folded up position. After necktie 116 is placed adjacent to collar band 102, a user can fold first collar flap 108 up so that top edge portion 110 is located closer (and possibly adjacent) to top edge portion 104. In this configuration, first collar flap 108 at least partially covers necktie 116 and significantly reduces the chance of (or even prevents) gravity and/or user activity from dislodging necktie 116. In some embodiments, edge portion 110 is attached to top edge portion 104 using Velcro, a snap, or any other suitable alternative.

FIGS. 5 and illustrate a back and front perspective view, respectively, of an individual wearing a dress shirt with a shirt collar according to the present invention. Second collar flap 114 is shown in a folded down position. Thus, a user can fold second collar flap 114 down to cover necktie 116 and first collar flap 108. While FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate second collar flap 114 fully covering first collar flap 108, second collar flap 114 may only partially cover first collar flap 108.

The present invention has been described with reference to the collar as used on a men's dress shirt. However, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms (e.g., on a women's dress shirt, a coat, etc.) without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A collar of a shirt, the collar including: a collar band having a top edge portion and a bottom edge portion; a first collar flap attached to the bottom edge portion of the collar band and configured to be folded up toward the top edge portion of the collar band; and a second collar flap attached to the top edge portion of the collar band and configured to be folded down toward the bottom edge portion of the collar band so as to at least partially cover the first collar flap.
 2. The collar of claim 1, wherein the first collar flap constitutes a single continuous piece of fabric.
 3. The collar of claim 1, wherein the first collar flap constitutes multiple pieces of fabric.
 4. The collar of claim 1, wherein the first collar flap constitutes multiple pieces of evenly spaced fabric.
 5. The collar of claim 1, wherein the second collar flap folds over the first collar flap.
 6. The collar of claim 1, wherein the first collar flap includes a bottom edge portion and a top edge portion and wherein the top edge portion of the first collar flap attaches to the top edge portion of the collar band.
 7. The collar of claim 6, wherein the first collar flap attaches to the top edge portion of the collar band by one or more of Velcro, a snap or other fastener.
 8. An article of clothing, including: a collar, the collar including: a collar band having a top edge portion and a bottom edge portion; a first collar flap attached to the bottom edge portion of the collar band and configured to be flipped up toward the top edge portion of the collar band; and a second collar flap attached to the top edge portion of the collar band and configured to be flipped down toward the bottom edge portion of the collar band so as to at least partially cover the first collar flap.
 9. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the article of clothing is a shirt.
 10. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the first collar flap constitutes a single continuous piece of fabric.
 11. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the first collar flap constitutes multiple pieces of fabric.
 12. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the first collar flap constitutes multiple pieces of evenly spaced fabric.
 13. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the second collar flap folds over the first collar flap.
 14. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the first collar flap includes a bottom edge portion and a top edge portion and wherein the top edge portion of the first collar flap attaches to the top edge portion of the collar band.
 15. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the first collar flap attaches to the top edge portion of the collar band by one or more of Velcro, a snap or other fastener.
 16. A method of securing a neck accessory to an article of clothing, the method comprising: placing the neck accessory adjacent to a collar band of the article of clothing, the collar band having a top edge portion and a bottom edge portion; folding a first collar flap attached to the bottom edge portion of the collar band toward the top edge portion of the collar band to cover the neck accessory; folding a second collar flap attached to the top edge portion of the collar band toward the bottom edge portion of the collar band to cover the first collar flap.
 17. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the first collar flap constitutes a single continuous piece of fabric.
 18. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the first collar flap constitutes multiple pieces of fabric.
 19. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the first collar flap constitutes multiple pieces of evenly spaced fabric.
 20. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the second collar flap folds over the first collar flap.
 21. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the first collar flap includes a bottom edge portion and a top edge portion and wherein the top edge portion of the first collar flap attaches to the top edge portion of the collar band.
 22. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the first collar flap attaches to the top edge portion of the collar band by one or more of Velcro, a snap or other fastener.
 23. The article of clothing of claim 16, wherein the neck accessory is a tie or scarf. 